Amusement device



Patented May 30, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

My invention consists in improvements in an amusement device primarily intended for use as an animated amulet adapted to be suspended from key chains, watch chains, and similar items. The primary object of my invention is to provide an amulet consisting of a fanciful representation of the head and face of a clown, or other amusing characterization, or in the form of the head and face of a comical animal such as a monkey, or the like, said face being provided with a movable nose and tongue which may be protracted and retracted at the will of the wearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple and inexpensive in construction, easy to operate and one which presents an attractive, novel and amusing appearance.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel features herein set forth illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation showing one form of my improved amulet, suspended from a conventional key chain;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the internal structure for protracting and retracting the nose and tongue;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to Figure 2, showing the nose and tongue in protracted positions; and

Figure 5 is a sectional View of the tongue mounting means taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

In the drawings, the head member, generally designated by the numeral 6, is preferably composed of two hollow half sections 1 and 8 formed of any suitable opaque material such for example, as styrene, or other plastic material molded and colored to form a fanciful representation of a head and face. In the form illustrated in the drawings, the front half I of the head is molded and colored to present the appearance of a clowns face, although it will be apparent that many other amusing characterizations may be embodied if desired. The hollow sections 1 and 8 may be joined together at their edges by any suitable means. For example, one

of the sections may be provided with a recess 9 adapted to receive the adjoining edge of the adjacent section which is preferably cemented in place.

Adjacent the nose portion of the face section I I provide an opening [0 adapted to receive the end ll of a substantially horizontal rod i2 which extends through the head member With its rear end 13 protruding through an opening M in the rear section 8 of the head. The forward end ll of the rod l2 forms a fanciful representation of a nose member which is preferably distinctively colored and may be reciprocated in the opening H by manipulation of the rear end or actuator E3 of the rod [2.

A mouth opening I5 in the face section 1 is adapted to receive the projecting end of a tongue member IS, the rear end of which terminates in a base l'i which embraces the rod I2 and is rigid- 1y fixed thereto by any suitable means. The fixed longitudinal position of the base 11 on the rod 12 is predetermined so that when the nose If and tongue 16 are in their innermost positions, the base [1 will abut the inner surface of the rear section 8 of the head, to act as a stop member for limiting the inward movement of these elements.

A coil spring l8 surrounds the rod 12 and is preferably interposed between the inner surface of the face member I and the base ll'i of the tongue, whereby the rod 12 and the parts connected thereto, are normally urged into retracted position in the head, with the rear end or actuator l3 protruding from the rear section 8 of the head.

Thus, by simply pressing forwardly on the actuating end I3 of the rod i2, the rod is moved bodily forward and the nose member H and tongue member l6 are simultaneously protracted through their respective openings, against the tension of the spring l8. Upon releasing the pressure on the actuator l3, the rod is forced rearwardly and the nose member H and tongue member [6 are automatically retracted into the head.

In the form of amulet representing the characterization of a clown, an appropriate means for connecting the device to a suspending chain may be in the form of an element I9 representing a clowns hat and swiveled by a stem 20 in a U- shaped opening in the upper edge of one of the head sections I, 8, a transverse opening 2| being provided in the hat to receive a conventional key chain or the like 22.

In assembling my improved amulet, the base 11 of the tongue i6 is slipped over the end of the rod l2 and secured in place at the proper point by any suitable means as before stated, and the coil spring [8 is applied to the rod if. The stem 20 of the hat element i9 is placed in the U- shaped recess in the edge of the face section I and the nose end ll of the rod i2 is inserted in the opening Iii, which brings the free end of the tongue it into the mouth opening H5. The rear half 8 of the head is then placed adjacent the face half with its edge engaging the recess 9 in the section 1, the opening it in section 8 receiving the rear or actuating end 53 of the rod. The two sections and 3 are then cemented together by any suitable method.

From the foregoing it is believed that my invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art without further description, it being borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in both the details of construction and the character represented by the fanciful face, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, it is obvious that while I have shown and described the nose and tongue as the movable elements of the face, other elemerits, such as the eyes, may be rendered movable with equally amusing effect.

I claim:

l.fAn amusement device in the form of an amulet, co'mprisinga hollow head member having a fanciful representation of a face, means for connecting said head to a suspending element, said face having an opening adjacent its nose portion, bearing opening in the rear of said head in substantially horizontal alignment with said nose opening, a rod reciprocably mounted in said openings with its opposite ends protrudingfrom respective openings, the forward end ofsaidrodcarrying a fanciful representation of a nose, and the rear end of said rod forming an actuator for controlling the protraction and retraction of said nose.

2. 'An amus'ement device in the form of an amulet, comprising a hollow head member, hav ing a fanciful representation of a face, means for connecting said head to a suspending element, said face having an opening adjacent its nose portion, a bearing opening in the rear "of said head in substantially horizontal alignment with said nose opening, a rod reciprocably mounted in said openings with its opposite ends protruding from respective openings, the forward end of said rod carrying a fanciful representation of a nose, a mouth opening in said face, a tongue member fixed to said rod at one end with its opposite end movable through said mouth opening, the rear end of said rod forming an actuator for controlling the protraction and retraction of said nose and tongue.

3. An amusement device in the form of an amulet, comprising a hollow head member having a fanciful representation of a face, means for connecting said head to a suspending element, said face having an opening adjacent its nose portion, a bearing opening in the rear of said head in substantially horizontal alignment with said nose opening, a rod reciprocably mounted in said openings with its opposite ends protruding from respective openings, the forward end of said rod carrying a fanciful representation of a nose, a mouth opening in said face, a tongue member fixed to said rod at one end with its opposite end movable through said mouth opening, and resilient means in said head normally urging said rod to retracted position, the rear end of said rod forming an actuator for protracting said nose and tongue.

4. An amusement device in the form of an amulet, comprising a hollow head member having a fanciful representation of a face, a hat member swiveled at the top of said head member, means for connecting said hat member to a suspending element, said face having an opening adjacent its nose portion, a bearing opening in the rear of said head in substantially horizontal alignment with said nose opening, a rod reciprocably mounted in said openings with its opposite ends protruding from respective openings, the forward end of said rod carrying a fanciful representation of a nose, a mouth opening in said face, a tongue member fixed to said rod at one end with its opposite end movable through said mouth opening, and resiilent means normally retaining said rodin retracted position, the rear end of said rod forming an actuator-for protracting said nose and tongue. r

5. An amusement device of the character described comprising a hollow head member having fanciful representation of a face and a pluof openings including a nose opening in said face and a bearing opening in the rear of said head in substantially horizontal alignment with said nose opening, a rod reciprocably mounted in said nose and bearing openings, with its opposite'ends projecting from respective openings, the forward end of said rod forming the nose of said face and the rear end of said rod forming an actuator for controlling the protraction and retraction of said nose, and means in said head for limiting the extent of retraction of said nose including a stop member carried by said rod for abutting engagement with the rear surface of said head upon movement of said to nose retracted position.

6. An amusement device of the character described comprising a hollow head member hav ing a fanciful representation of a face and a plurality of openings including a nose opening in said face and a bearing opening in therear of said head in substantially horizontal alignment with said nose opening, a rod 'reciprocably mounted in said nose and bearing openings, with its opposite ends projecting from respective openings, the forward end'of said rod forming the nose of said face and adapted to be protracted and retracted upon reciprocation of said rod, means in said head for limiting the extent of retraction of said nose including-a stop member carried by said rod for abutting engagement with the inner surface of said head upon movement of said rod to noseretracted position,'and means normally urging said rod to nose retracted position includinga coil spring surrounding said rod and interposed between said stop member and the inner surface of said face, the rearend of said rod forming an actuator forprotracting said nose.

7. An amusement device of the character-doe scribed comprising a hollow head member having a fanciful representation of a face and a plurality of openings includinge, nose open-ingand a mouth opening in said face and-a, bearing -opening in the rear of said head in substantially horizontal alignment with said nose opening, a rod reciprocably mounted in said 'nose and bearing openings with its opposite ends projecting from respective openings, the forward 'endof said rod forming the nose of said face and adapted tobe protracted and retracted upon reciprocation of said rod, a tongue member carried by said rod. and movable through said mouth opening to protracted and retracted positions upon reciprocation of said rod, said tongue member having a base portion in said head constructed and arranged to form a stop member for abutting engagement with the inner surface of said head upon movement of said. rod to retracted position, and means normally urging said rod to retracted position including a coil spring surrounding said rod and interposed between the base portion of said tongue and the inner surface of said face,

the rear end of said rod forming an actuator for protracting said nose and tongue.

LAWRENCE EZRA COOKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 698,324 Sanger Apr. 22, 1902 837,216 Gilbert Nov. 27, 1906 1,147,978 Schmitt July 27, 1915 

